Water ski apparatus



R. B. DRENNEN, JR

WATER SKI APPARATUS April 7, 1964 Filed Aug. 21, 1961 zz i INVENTOR. Raf/Ph B. Dran/zen. Jr. M/MY/nyw United States Patent O 3,127,522 WATER SKI APIARATUS Ralph B. Brennen, ltr., 1305 Daria St., Birmingham 9, Ala. Filed Aug'. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 132,643 4 Claims. (Cl. 9-31i3) This invention relates to water ski apparatus and more particularly to such apparatus in which a platform is supported by at least one water ski.

Heretofore in water skiing it has been common for a person to stand on water skis. It normally becomes tiresome for a skier after a period of time to stand on water skis continuously and skiing requires some degree of skill particularly if the water is not smooth.

It is an object of the present invention to provide water ski apparatus having a platform thereon on which a skier may sit or lie as well as stand, thereby allowing a use of the apparatus to remain thereon for a relatively long period of time without becoming exhausted.

A further object of the invention is to provide Water ski apparatus that is easily maneuverable by the mounting of the platform on a single center ski thereby allowing the apparatus to be easily tilted from side to side. A side ski above and on each side of the center ski is provided to engage the water and limit the tilting of the device such as occurs when turns are made or when waves are encountered.

Another object of my invention is to provide a platform over water skis, with support members extending between and secured to the upper surface of the skis and the undersurface of the platform, the platform being spaced from the skis and being of a Width substantially the same as the distance between the outer edges of the outer skis.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of my water ski apparatus forming the present invention in which a platform is mounted over a pair of water skis;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the water ski apparatus shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational View looking generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. l and showing support members connecting the platform and the water skis;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a further embodiment of my invention in which a platform is mounted over a center ski with side skis on each side of the center ski at an elevation thereabove; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 5--5 of FIG. 4 and showing the support members extending between and securing the water skis and the platform.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention, and more particularly to the embodiment of my invention in FIGS. 1-3, water ski apparatus is indicated generally by the numeral and is towed by a tow rope R which may be connected to a power boat or the like (not shown). Ski apparatus 1t) comprises a pair of water skis 11 and 12 which have upwardly curved forward ends 13 and 14. A fin 16 is provided on the rear undersurface of skis 11 and 12 to aid in guiding ski apparatus 10.

An elongated platform 17 is mounted over water skis 11 and 12 and spaced therefrom as shown in FIG. 2. Platform 17 is of a width equal substantially to the distance between the outer edges of water skis 11 and 12. Tow rope R is secured to platform 17 through an opening therein and is adapted to pull apparatus 10. A ski rope 15 is also secured to platform 17 through suitable openings so that a user of the apparatus may hold Mice thereto. Platform 17 has its rear end at an elevation above its forward end and when platform 17 is at rest in the water the forward ends of skis 14 are directed upwardly since platform 17 oats on the level upper surface of the water. Thus, upon pulling of platform 17 from rest, the forward end of the apparatus will tend to be pulled upwardly from the Water.

Longitudinal support members 18 for each ski 11 and 12 comprise metal strips rectangular in cross section extending in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the skis. Support members 1S are` secured at 19 by suitable securing means to the undersurface of platform 17 and by securing means 21 to the upper surface of skis 11 and 12. Transverse support members 22 extend in a direction transversely of the longitudinal axis of skis 11 and 12 and are secured by securing means 23 to the undersurface of platform 17 and by securing means 21 to the upper surface of skis 11 and 12. Securing means 19, 21, 23 comprise threaded wood screws.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5 a modification of my apparatus is shown in which the apparatus is indicated generally by the numeral 30 and comprises an intermediate or center water ski 31 with a platform 32 positioned centrally over center water ski 31. A side ski 33 is arranged outwardly of one side of center ski 31 and a side ski 35 is arranged outwardly of the other side of center ski 31. As shown in FIG. 5, side skis 33 and 35 are at an elevation above the elevation of center ski 31 and in the normal operation of apparatus 30 with platform 32 in a horizontal relation, side skis 33 and 35 do not contact the surface of the water. Center ski 31 has a. iin 34 on the underside thereof and is of a width substantially twice the width of side skis 33 and 35. Also, as shown in FIG. 4, center ski 31 is of a length greater than the length of side skis 33 and 35.

Transverse support members 36 each comprises a metal strip rectangular in cross section and extending transversely of the direction of travel of apparatus 30. Securing means 37 secure supports 36 to the undersurface of platform 32 and securing means 38 secure supports 36 to the upper surface of skis 31, 33 and 35. Support member 39 extends in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of ski 31 and is secured to the undersurface of platform 32 at 41 and to the upper surface of ski 31 by suitable securing means. Support member 39 is similar to the longitudinal supports 18 of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-3. The bottom contact surfaces of side skis 33 and 35 slant with respect to the bottom surface of center ski 31 and are preferably at an angle of around 45 to the water engaging bottom surface of center ski 31. Angles from 20 to 60 have been found to work satisfactorily.

An arcuate, semi-circular pull bar 43 is secured to the forward end of platform 32. A pull ring 44 is adapted to slide along bar 43 and pull rope 46 is secured to ring 44. Rope 46 is in turn secured to a motor boat or the like (not shown). Ring 44 may slide along bar 43 as may occur when turns are made in the water.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is easily maneuverable since it is supported only by a single ski 31 when in normal operation with platform 32 in horizontal relation. It is easy for a person to tilt apparatus 30 by shifting weight from one side of the platform to the other side thereof. It is desirable to tilt apparatus 30 when a turn is made and the tilting thereof facilitates the making of the turn. Also, when waves are encountered, it is possible to ride on the side or crest of the waves by tilting the ski apparatus 3l). When apparatus 30 is tilted on ski 31, either side ski 33 or side ski 35 will engage the upper surface of the water and thereby limit the tilting of the apparatus. In this position,

apparatus 30 will make the turn or ride the wave and thereafter the platform may be leveled to remove side skis 33 and 3S from the surface of the water.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that I have provided a Water ski apparatus having a platform supported by and spaced from water skis which ride on the upper surface of the water. The platform is of suiiicient size to allow a user to sit, lie, or stand thereon. Further, one embodiment of my invention provides a platform mounted on a single center ski which allows the apparatus to be easily tilted with side skis engaging the surface of the water when the apparatus is tilted thereby to limit the tilting thereof.

While I have shown my invention in more than one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In water ski apparatus, an intermediate water ski adapted to be pulled along the surface of water, a side ski positioned on each side of said intermediate ski at an elevation above the intermediate ski, the bottom contact surfaces of said side skis being slanted outwardly at an angle with respect to the bottom contact surface of said intermediate ski, a platform over all of said skis and spaced therefrom, and support members extending between and secured to the undersurface of the platform and the upper surface of the skis, said side skis being of a length greater than the length of said platform.

2. In water ski apparatus, an intermediate water ski adapted to be pulled along the surface of water, a side ski positioned on each side of said intermediate ski at an elevation above the intermediate ski, said side skis being slanted outwardly at an angle of between 20 and 60 with respect to said intermediate ski and adapted to engage the water when the apparatus is tilted or when a wave is contacted, a platform over all of said skis and spaced therefrom, and support members extending transversely of the platform and secured to each of the skis and the underside of the platform.

3. In water ski apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said intermediate ski is of a width substantially twice the width of the side skis.

4. In ski apparatus, a center ski adapted to slide along a supporting surfaceQa platform positioned substantially centrally over said center ski and spaced therefrom, a side ski positioned on each side of the center ski at an elevation thereabove and being of a length greater than the length of said platform, and support members extending between and secured to each of said skis and said platform, said side s'kis being slanted outwardly at an angle between 20 and 60 with respect to the center ski and adapted to engage the supporting surface when the platform is tilted.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 792,368 Walter June 13, 1905 1,559,390 Waller Oct. 27, 1925 1,903,930 Miller Apr. 18, 1933 2,266,842 Angell Dec. 23, 1941 2,443,348 Flajole .Tune 15, 1948 2,841,406 Brandon July 1, 1958 2,865,032 Moody Dec. 23, 1958 2,929,348 Jackson Mar. 22, 1960 2,938,220 Puckett May 31, 1960 2,959,795 Leung Nov. l5, 1960 3,026,120 Geurard Mar. 20, 1962 

1. IN WATER SKI APPARATUS, AN INTERMEDIATE WATER SKI ADAPTED TO BE PULLED ALONG THE SURFACE OF WATER, A SIDE SKI POSITIONED ON EACH SIDE OF SAID INTERMEDIATE SKI AT AN ELEVATION ABOVE THE INTERMEDIATE SKI, THE BOTTOM CONTACT SURFACES OF SAID SIDE SKIS BEING SLANTED OUTWARDLY AT AN ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO THE BOTTOM CONTACT SURFACE OF SAID INTERMEDIATE SKI, A PLATFORM OVER ALL OF SAID SKIS AND SPACED THEREFROM, AND SUPPORT MEMBERS EXTENDING BETWEEN AND SECURED TO THE UNDERSURFACE OF THE PLATFORM AND THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE SKIS, SAID SIDE SKIS BEING OF A LENGTH GREATER THAN THE LENGTH OF SAID PLATFORM. 